Thursday, December 14, 2006

Linux that looks like Windows XP


Here's a Linux project which tries to provide users an identical Windows XP look&feel. If you are interested you can take a look at the SourceForge project here. So, who's copying who now? And why?

From the project site: "LXP is a desktop enviroment identical to Windows XP. LXP is a collection of different pieces of GNU software (icewm, xfe, idesk, etc) modified in order to look and feel identical to Windows XP. LXP has its own icewm themes and utility pack."

The project started in 2005 with a kiosk Linux distribution with a look similar to Windows XP. I think it does a good job now but in the end it remains a imitation. Please note that I'm not against Linux, why should I be?

See also :
Top 10 Linux problems - poll
Biggest Linux problem: it makes users think
Another "Linux like XP" project

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's not meant to copy xp in the sense xp has great looks, it's meant too look like xp to bring linux mainstream if ppl see that and it has a familiar ''look'' to it they'd be more apt to try rather then shy away from it becuase it's linux

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure the POINT is that it's an imitation...

Anonymous said...

;) ...
Doesn't it show the scalability of linux.Power n Might !

Anonymous said...

that is pretty horrible

Anonymous said...

Terrible fonts.

Keith said...

Isn't "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?"...

hehe

Anonymous said...

well, the same with Linux XP 2006 edition (service pack 2) :). see site: www.linux-xp.com :) that is russian dist, the phylosophy of which is "U move from Win to Lin and get all the same staff" :)

Unknown said...

This is funny, however I hate everything about Windows XP, and wouldn't want my Linux desktop to look like it.

Anonymous said...

Did somebody say Lawsuit?

Anonymous said...

Finally, a stable Windows enviroment....

Oystein Alsaker said...

That's the worst thing I've seen since fvwm95. The next thing, someone will try to make beryl look like Vista.

Dan Atkinson said...

I think it's a good idea because it shows the versatility of linux and also lets people dip their toes into the water without being assaulted by too much.

Anonymous said...

I prefer a genuine Windows where I can install my Windows applications (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Premiere, Illustrator, AfterEffects, Autocad, 3D Studio MAX...)

Anonymous said...

I think this is a great idea, as i've been trying to get XP, for stability and looks. Now, i can get more stability, AND the looks for free. I get to keep my $200.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it looks like WinXP alpha or something cheap.
I don't think this will attract more people to use Linux, IMHO ghome or even KDE are better than this.

Anonymous said...

Themes doesn't mean copying. LOL

Anonymous said...

Why do we need this linux at all?

If somebody needs linux, they can just pick the preferred existing version.

If MS Windows is needed, just grab that.

This is merely waste of development time.

Anonymous said...

Ooh the teletubbies look. I think they would have been better off sticking with the classic look.

Anonymous said...

when i switch from a honda accord to a new bmw, i'd like my bmw to look and act like a bmw, not the other way around.

catch my drift?

when trying something new, anyone wants a brand new experience. the key is not to replicate the old, but to design something well so that it is immediately useful and intuitive.

that you were able to do this is pretty cool, but its purpose is lacking.

Anonymous said...

Why imitate |?
www.adgerlinux.com

nikosapi said...

Wow, that's creepy...
I'll take my standard KDE desktop, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Everyone agrees that this one sucks :D

Anonymous said...

this is not "linux" (as in linux kernel)... its a "linux distrobution" get your title right...
But hey nice post its not the first time...

Anonymous said...

Could somebody please ban using JPEGs for screenshots! Using PNG and don't look silly.

Anonymous said...

LINUX RUUUULES!!!!!!!
DIE MS!!!

Anonymous said...

This is just damn sad. Windows is sh1t for many reasons. Linux is great for many reasons. Just leave it at that. haha.

john said...

@ Øystein:

Beryl is not that far from Vista's Aero...

Anonymous said...

All of you nix-fanboys are being a little ignorant. Linux is great for a server and decent for a desktop. Windows is and excellent desktop OS, their server software is sh1t. Apple makes decent stuff for niche groups and grandmoms.
The grand idea is, if you didn't have windows OS for the chimps who can't use a computer, the management at work who can't program a VCR and the grannies who just want to check mail - you'd be paying a cr4p load of cash for hardware.
I guess no one is old enough to remember that only the rich or upper middle class could afford computers. If it wasn't for AOL (God I hate them), Dell and others "Creating" a market that didn't previously exist, you wouldn't be getting the h/w advances (every 6 mo.) and cheap prices your getting (laptops for $400!!!).
You can hate any OS you want, but they are all serving some purpose. It's a delicate balance. The chimps who buy computers and put $$$ into the system make it easier for the upper crust to purchase their hardware. You can't pay for R&D without $$$.
Yes, XP is ugly as cr4p, the Ipod is not the best MP3 player ever and is lacking in ogg support etc, AOL does clog up the Internet with idiots who's VCR is always flashing 12:00...12:00...12:00, but they also flood the markets with money that helps cable companies provide faster connections, manufactures offer cheaper hardware faster and software developers greater test bases and funding for development.
Like I said hate what you like, but without evil there can be no good.

Anonymous said...

Y'know, Linux could cure rickets and print legal US currency and there's STILL going to be people out there, M$ sheep, that insist that Windows is the better OS. Microsoft is part of the the fabric of the industry, and I have to admit they did a good job of making a simple operating system that's easy for the layman to use. Unfortunately making a Linux distro look like Windows would go a long way towards convincing some of the herd that Linux is just as relevant as anything M$ puts out, and maybe even worth the extra effort involved in unlocking the true power in Linux.

The bad side to this, is that it might jade people into thinking Linux is playing "catch-up" with Windows.

Not an easy tightrope to walk, look to GIMPshop (GIMP redone to 'look' and 'feel' like Photoshop,) to know what I mean. There seems to be a call for this, and whether you see it as "bait and switch" tactics, or unnecessary pandering, it has it's place in a marketplace where minds have to be bent and re-bent to get any credibility (ironic, isn't it?)

Anonymous said...

too bad it doesn't work the other way around...

long live the penguins

Anonymous said...

This windows look is great, but I think that having a unique theme would be a bit better. Just think of it, millions of copy themes from other Operating systems, but no original theme that tells that this is linux and not some other operating system.

Anonymous said...

One Guy said Quote "when i switch from a honda accord to a new bmw, i'd like my bmw to look and act like a bmw, not the other way around." Unquote

But it is the other way.

Its like owning a BMW and getting a honda you would want the Honda(LinuxXP) to look like the BMW (Microsoft)

Anonymous said...

Apple makes OS for gandmas and niche groups? What a fool!

OS X is many more times stable than windows or linux for that matter. Leopard is POSIX certified UNIX which is 100x more stable than Windows or Linux.

We have AIX machines (AIX is also POSIX UNIX certified) that have been up and running with no major issues for 4 years now! Let me see a Windows machine do that!

Don't get me wrong - Gentoo is my fave disto (both amd64 and Gentoo/BSD versions) and it destroys Windows for office productivity, speed and stability. Probably because I compiled from a stage 1 install and optimized the kernel - but noetheless it screams.

OS X - KILLS windows. I can do 100% of all that I can do on Windows, plus run nix apps, plus run Windows apps using vmware fusion or crossover. I rarely need xp even in vmware fusion except for a picky ssl vpn that doesnt like anything but IE.

Now I still like Windows for ease of use, and I would kill to have vista running on a 2.6 kernel instead of the windows kernel. i like this project to mimick, but i would love for someone to port windows to Linux kernel - basically just as Linux is a kernel with apps on top of it (including desktop) they should try and get the apps that run windows running with a linux kernel... That woudl seriously rock if it were stable!

Anonymous said...

I dont think the way the operating system looks is really the most important feature.

For most people it comes down to compatability. The ability to run familiar programs, for most people I know it's the ability to run all their desired games which seems to be an issue for linux. So for all it's superiority in speed and impregnability to spyware or malware, where I assume the stability claims stem from as I've never had a problem with windows xp crashing or system errors,(not the case for all prior versions of windows which crashed repeatedly when you looked at them incorrectly). You have a superior machine that wont do what you want it to.

Anonymous said...

sometimes you have to have a computer looking like what people are used to otherwise they will not use it. I love linux and the way it works, but some people would find it to difficult so they have to have something that looks like Windows XP. At some colleges they use Linux but make it look like Windows so the students do not get confused.

Anonymous said...

Its much better to have your linux look like mac than xp, like this!:
http://images.howtoforge.com/images/mac4lin/Mac4Lin%20Documentation_html_m60b0f288.jpg

Adam Stern said...

Nice article!

http://www.infinitelyvirtual.com

Avoura said...

Some people, who have used Windows XP and/or earlier versions, when they move to Linux, are annoyed that things do not look the same. Some people just do not like change, yet they want to change to Linux because of its superior features (no viruses, spyware, etc.) but cannot cope with the change of interface.
So any project that makes Linux look like something more familiar is worth it, and if we can get people using Linux that looks like XP instead of them using XP, then that is a step forward for Linux. Remember that most Windows users are using Windows because it came "free" with their PC.

Anonymous said...

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and here is my website details :http://www.mabonsoft.com

Bye for now